Curtain hanger-pleater



March 4, .w. B s CAMERON 2,588,203

CURTAIN HANGER-PLEATER Filed June 29. 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY WQ W W March 4, 1952 w. B. s. CAMERON 2,588,203

CURTAIN HANGER-PLEATER Filed June 29. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffiverifow.

March 4, 1952 w. B. s. CAMERON CURTAIN HANGER-PLEATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 29, 1949 LL 2 m INVEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTAINHANGER-PLEATER Warren B. S. Cameron, Hillsgrove, R. L, assignor to Kenney Manufacturing Company, Cranston, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application June 29, 1949, Serial No. 101,935

This. invention relates to curtain I hangers adapted to form pleats in the curtain which they support and more particularly to combination curtain hangers and pleaters having positively controlled clamping means for retaining successive folds of a curtainwhereby the clamping means maybe loosened to permit insertion and adjustment of curtain folds'and then tightened to firmly clamp the said folds in place.

In order to be most effective, a curtain hangerpleater should be sufiiciently rigid to support curtains of various weights, without sagging or distorting; second, it should offer the housewife a simple installation problem whereby she can hang and adjust her own curtains Without assistance of interior decorators, etc.; third, once the housewife has adjusted the curtain and its pleats to suit her taste, the hanger-pleater should be capable of retaining the curtain in such position of adjustment despite normal disruptiveforces such as wind through the windowor possibly inadvertant tugsby children, etc.; fourth, although retaining the curtain, the hanger-pleater should not mar the material or subject it to imminent tearing-if the curtain issubjected to tension; fifth, the hanger-pleater should -be-capable of variation to accommodate various thicknesses of material whileat the same time being capable of positively securing the same from slippage; and sixth, for purposes of general good appearance and ,in order to avoid the provision of expensive ornamental coverings, none of the parts of the hanger-pleater-should be visible.

Conventional hanger-pleaters fall far short of these optimum conditions. In general, hitherto known pleaters may be considered'as belonging to three general categories; first, those made of bent wire or metal stripping. andformed into appropriate loops in spring contact with one another; second, those: having; narrow slots. into which the material 'is squeezed; and third, those having wide slots into which the material is inserted, whereupon retaining members are wedged-into the slots behindthe material, holding the folds in place.

The bent wire or-metal stripping-typeof *hanger-pleater of the first category has various disadvantages. If the wire is-constructed with sufiicient-flexibilityto permit easy adjustment and avoid marringthe material during installation of the-curtain; then it will notpreyent randommis i nm n ter ns a a on. Butii onst ucte ri id t curt u wiu-bed moult o adiust nd the material will be marred. Furthermore sag;

time 01 ehan rrpleat r. i a e theweightof.

teams. (01. 161F448) L rative ov ings; andn a ly han e the curtain will tend to separate thev loops angi release the folds.

' The narrow-slottedtype of hanger-pleaterhas the disadvantage. of" being difficult to use. In

order for the housewife to squeezethe material into the slots, she must be able toexertfillhstantial pressure with her, fingers. And. even though she can just barely insertthematerial into the slotswith her. fingers, thecurl ainwillnot be held sufficiently. tight to. prevent slight ,Itugs at the bottom of the curtain from throwing the pleats out of alignment. In one construction, a long sharp pointed pin was passed longitudinally through the hanger-pleater piercing the curtain material adjacent to the narrow slots.. Thisconstruction was .efiective to, retain the, folds, but it marred the material criticallyand sub ected it to tearing if the curtain were pulled with ,any substantial force. A further disadvantage inthe narrow slotted type is. that it cannot accommodate fabricsof various thicknesses, weights and textures. with the same degree of retention.

The :wide slotted. type. of hangerep leater of .the third category .generallv requires a retaining. clip orlocking member tofollowthe material. into-the slotandhold it there. While uch apoaratushas the advantage of positively ripping. the material, it presents an extremely difficult installation and adjustment problem for the average =houewif e. The material will slip if the retainin -member is withdrawn, butthe folds can be adiustedonly if the retaining member is withdrawn; In all probability. adiustment would req ire the assistance. nfseveral peop e. Furthermore. since. such retaining members arelikely to bevisible, ;it.will be necessary to. provide decorative coversfor them, rendering the apparatus.more-expensive.

Therefore objects of my invention include ,provision of the following: a..hanger,.-.pleater which will have sufficient. rigidity. to support ,a, curtain without bending or sagging: a hanger-pleater with which it willbe a simple task, to install and adjust .the,p;leats, of acurtain; a hangerpleater which will providepositive. clamping means to secure the folds of a curtain against randommi alignment due to .wind or iothentensions; a hanger-pleater, which, 1 while. retaining the, curtain material rigidly, will not mar -the material; a hanger-pleater which will support a urtain nt ely ro beh nd wit oumnyma ts; ema ningvisible.andthsrebymesmifing o s capab1e.. o accommodation of. ma erials. arm widely. irersent wei ht-5.. textures. and. thicknesse I In the accomplishment of these objects. I employ a pair of supports secured one to each upper corner of a window frame. Slidably connected to each of these supports for movement normal to the plane of the window frame is a downward and inward slanting fixed brace having projections thereon aligned to form a series of upper jaws. Slidably connected to each fixed brace 1s a movable brace having a corresponding series of lower jaws aligned thereon and in opposed relation to the said upper jaws. The movable brace is driven in sliding relation to the fixed brace by a threaded thumb screw which interconnects the ends of the two braces. Thus a curtain in the attitude of a festoon can be draped upon the hangers with appropriately spaced folds inserted between the jaws, and with the upper margin of the curtain draped over the top of the hanger. Once the folds have been inserted, they may be positively clamped and secured tightly by simply taking up on the thumb screw, which operates to slide the movable brace along the fixed brace causing the jaws to close.

It is a feature of my invention that the jaws present a relatively wide area of contact against the curtain fabric. Thus a broad friction surface is provided, and loosely woven fabrics will not tend to be marred or distorted by the jaws.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of a spring clip mechanism secured to the lower end of the movable brace adjacent to the thumb screw, and adapted to close against a flange on the fixed brace as the thumb screw is tightened. The spring clip serves the purpose of retaining the lower and inner margin of the curtain positively while the jaws are still slightly open to receive th remainder of the pleats of the curtain. Thereafter when the jaws are closed to firmly clamp the pleats, the spring clip merely recedes to accommodate such further motion of the movable brace relative to the fixed brace.

An additional feature of my invention is the provision of a longitudinal extension of the end jaw of the fixed brace. This extension serves to hold the curtain material downward and in position to substantially hide the above mentioned spring clip and thumb screw.

Further objects and features of my invention will best be understood and appreciated from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the right hand hanger-pleater of my invention in its normal position prior to the installation of a curtain,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fixed brace,

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of th fixed brace,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the movable brace,

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the movable brace,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the hanger-pleater,

Fig. '7 is a view in side elevation of the hangerpleater in which the jaws are shown partially open,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view in end elevation along the lines 8-8 of Fig.7, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7.

The preferred embodiment of my invention "herein shown is composed largely of sheet metal I appropriately stamped and formed and thereby it comprises a substantially rigid structure. In its general organization each individual hangerpleater includes a. support secured to the upper corner of a window frame 24 and standing out from the frame as indicated at I0. Connected at right angles to the support and slanting downward and inward is a brace I2. A brace I4 is slidably connected to the brace I2 for longitudinal movement. And the braces I2 and I4 serve to mount upper jaws I6 and lower jaws l8 respectively.

The brace I2 is referred to herein as the fixed brace to emphasize the fact that the jaws I6 which it supports remain stationary when the jaws I8 are being closed. However the brace I2 actually is mounted for adjustment towards or away from the window frame and carries the brace I4 with it during such movement.

The support indicated at I0 includes a base plate 20 perforated to receive screws 22 which secure the base plate to the window frame 24. A shallow channel 26 integral with the base plate 20, extends outwardly from it in a plane normal to the said base plate 20. For the purpose of connecting the hanger-pleater to the support and for adjustment of the hanger-pleater in position normal to the plane of the window, the fixed brace I2 is provided with a narrow connecting plate 28 spot welded to the said fixed brace and fitting slidably into the channel 26. The connector plate 28 is held in place in the channel 26 by a machine screw 30 secured to the channel 26 and communicating through an elongated slot 32 in the connecting plate 28.

Taken by itself the fixed brace I2 may be seen in Fig. 3, and includes a longitudinally extending central portion having a groove 34 stamped therein. The connecting plate 28 (see Fig. 7) is spot welded to one end of the brace I2 and therefore the groove 34 stops short of that end to provide for a more even welding surface. At the other end of the brace I2 is a flange 38 employed in connecting the movable brace I4 to the brace I2 as will be further outlined below.

Aligned along one margin of the fixed brace I2 and in the same plane therewith is a series of upper jaws I6 which comprise essentially fiat individual plates, the contour of which is straight on one side and slightly bowed on the bite side of the jaw. In order to provide a large contact surface between the jaws and the curtain fabric and to prevent marring of the fabric, the bite sides of the jaws are first bent to one side at a slight angle and then they are bent back to form a fiat surface indicated at 38.

The movable brace I4 is similar to the fixed brace I2 in that it includes a longitudinally extending central portion and a groove 40 stamped therein. The groove 40 lodges into the groove 34 of the plate I2, and thereby guides the brace I4 in longitudinal movement. At the end of the brace I4 corresponding to the end of the brace I2 where the flange 36 is located, a flange 42 is provided bending in the same direction as the flange 36 and having an upwardly extending spring clip portion 44 integral therewith. The brace I3 is provided with a series of spaced lower jaws I8 resembling the upper jaws I6 of the fixed brace. The jaws I 8 extend from the brace I4 in the same plane and comprise essentially fiat plates having contours which are straight on one side and curved or bowed on the bite side in a complementary manner to the upper jaws I6. I In order to provide a second fiat surface for clamping the curtain fabric, the jaws I8 are likewise bent first slightly in one direction and then around in a plane normal to the brace I4 as indicated at 46.

The manner in which the movable brace I4 is aces-nos securedto the-fixed brace Itwill now beespla'ined: The-conneeting=plate 28'-actually' ex-' tends'slightly over the groove 36- and is further provided with a counter-indentation' 48 to form a-- socket surrounding the adjacent end of the groove 35. The braces i2 and i l fit-together With the raised portion on the back of the brace it, caused bythe groove dd, fitting into the groove 3d of the brace 52. Extending longitudinally from the groove liiis alugili which actually is nothing more than a continuation of the metal of the brace l following the cross sectional contour of the groove 4!). The lug 5i! fits into the socket formed by the'plate 28, the groove 34, and the counter-indentation i8 thus holding and slidably retaining one end of the movable plate. As was explained above; theother ends of the brace l2 and I4 are provided withflanges 35 and 42 respectively. The flange 42.1s perforated and the flange SE'is tapped to receive a machine thumb screw-52". The thumb screw: 52 is provided with ashoulder Eifi which bears against the flange 42 when the thumb screw is tightened. Thus both ends of the movable brace Mare connectedto the fixed brace I2 for sliding. movement. As the thumb screw 52 is screwed in, the shoulder 54 bears against the flange l2 and drives the movable brace ld along the fixed brace 12, thereby closing th jaws i8 and iii respectively.

The spring clip 44 stands in opposed relation to the outer end of the flange 36, and may be adjusted to meet the flange 36 prior to the jaws l6 and I8 coming in contact with each other. The purpose of this relationship between the spring clip 44 and the jaws will become more evident as the operation of my invention is described.

The operation of my invention entails first mounting two hanger-pleaters in their appropriate locations in the upper inside corners of a window frame. Thereafter a festoon or valance type curtain is laid out and marks made on its underside to indicate the spacing and location of the desired pleats. Thereupon the thumb screw 52 is loosened in order to open up the spaces between the jaws I6 and I8 sufficiently to accommodate the curtain fabric, but to leave the spring clip 44 in close relationship to the flange 36. Thereupon the curtain is lifted and its lower margin is inserted between the spring clip 44 and flange 36 on each hanger-pleater. In this position the curtain will hang down in front ofthe window with its underside outermost. If necessary, at this time the thumb screw 52 may be taken up a slight amount to firmly hold the curtain. The next step is to take the curtain at the points where the folds are marked and insert it in between the jaws of the pleater successively until passing the uppermost jaw whereupon the curtain fabric is passed over the top of the hanger-pleater and secured to the support H) by a pin passing through holes 58. Of course, it is to be understood that this operation is carried out first on one hanger-pleater and then on the other. When the curtain is thus installed upon the hanger-pleaters, it may be readily adjusted by sliding the folds up or down as desired between the jaws, and after final adjustment, the thumb screws 52 can be finally and firmly taken up to secure the curtain in the optimum position of adjustment.

It will be seen from this construction that its strength is an essential feature. The grooves 34 and 40 while being instrumental in providing a sliding channel fit between the braces l2 and M is important in providing a longitudinal strength 6 factor. This enables f me to: support the" hanger-.- pleater from itsendby the-p1ate 28 andchannel 26; and thereby obviates the necessity. of an ex.- tension from the upper end *ofthe'fixed braceto support the upper margins of the curtain.

In order to mask from view. the'spring'clip M," the fixed brace l 2S is provided "with alower end extension 56" in alignment with the jaws lfi and adapted toextend the curtain fabric downward and'inward from its position of. retention by the said clip 44.

It will beevident to those skilled in-the art that the braces may be actuated in relative longitudinal motion by means other than the thumb screw withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Possible variations inclu'de ordinary screws, and toggle clamps; cams or lockin levers operating on the same-principle as trunk clasps or Mason jar cover clasps.

Furthermore, it will beevident to those skill'ed in the art that the thumb screw 52 may beprovided with an additional shoulder corresponding to the shouldert i but located on the other side of the flange 42" adjacent thereto. Suchqa second shoulderwould provide positive'jaw-opem ing action of the thumb screw 52 in addition to the closing action already described.

While other minor variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to confine the invention to the precise limits of the preferred embodiment herein shown, but rather to measure it in terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described an illustrative embodiment of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A curtain hanger-pleater comprising a support, a first brace connected to said support, a second brace connected in sliding relation to the first brace, spaced upper jaws on the first brace, spaced lower jaws on the second brace in opposed relation to the said upper jaws, a longitudinally disposed threaded member engaging the second brace, and the first brace tapped to receive the said threaded member, whereby the opposed jaws are arranged to receive folds of a curtain and the threaded member is adapted to actuate the movable brace longitudinally of the first brace closing the jaws to clamp the curtain foldsin place.

2. In a curtain hanger-pleater the combination with a support of a first brace, a second brace slidably connected to the first brace,.one said brace connected to said support, a plurality of upper jaws integral with the first brace, a plurality of lower jaws integral with the second brace and in opposed relation to the said upper jaws, a spring flange secured to one end of the said second brace in opposed relation to the corresponding end of the first brace and adapted to abut against the said end of the first brace when the jaws approach the closed position thereby forming a spring clip, and a longitudinally disposed member interconnecting said first and second braces having a longitudinal thrust surface bearing against said second brace, and

said member being actuatable to slide the second brace relative to the first brace, whereby said opposed jaws are arranged to receive folds of a curtain and said braces are actuatable first to hold the margin of the curtain in said spring clip and then to clamp the curtain folds in place.

3. In a curtain hanger-pleater the combination with a support of a first brace, a second brace slidably connected to the first brace, a plurality of upper jaws on one said brace, a plurality of lower jaws on the other said brace, said upper and lower jaws having opposed flat jaw surfaces, and a longitudinally disposed member interconnecting said first and second braces having a longitudinal thrust surface bearing against said second brace, and said member being actuatable to slide the second brace relative to the first brace, whereby to clamp curtain material between said opposed flat jaw surfaces.

4. A curtain hanger-pleater comprising a support, a first brace, a second brace slidably connected to the first.brace, one said brace connected to said support, a plurality of upper jaws integral with the first brace, a plurality ofdower jaws integral with the second brace and in opposed relation to the said upper jaws, a spring flange secured to one end of the said second brace in opposed relation to the corresponding end of the first brace and adapted to abut against the said end of the first brace when the jaws approach the closed position thereby forming a spring clip, a longitudinally disposed channel rib in said first brace, a longitudinally disposed channel rib in said second brace fitting into sliding relation in the channel rib of said first brace, and a longitudinally disposed member interconnecting said first and second braces having a longitudinal thrust surface bearing against said second brace, and said member being actuatable to slide the second brace relative to the first brace, whereby said opposed jaws are arranged to receive folds of a curtain and said braces are actuatable first to hold the margin of the curtain in said spring clip and then to clamp the curtain folds in place.

WARREN B. S. CAMERON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 241,052 Muller May 3, 1881 2,150,802 Latsch Mar. 14, 1939 2,409,425 Falkenberg Oct. 15, 1946 25 2,522,918 Abrams Sept. 19, 1950 

